Posture chair



APYI- 4, 1939- w.A RIHEROLD 2,153,327

` POSTURE @HA-IR Original Filed Sept. 7.. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR @LTER F HER QLD.

2A 2 34 m )445'77 78 lll-INH: 57 ATTORNEY April 4, i939. w. F. HEROLD POSTUREZ CHAI R Original Filed Sept. '7, 1955 2 SheetsfSheet 2 ATTORNEY UNITE-o STATES POSTUEE CHAIR Walter F. Herold, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner to The Bassick Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 7, 1935, Serial No. 39,542 Renewed December 23, 1938 9 Claims. (Cl. 155-157) 'The present invention relates to an improve- Fig. 4 is a Vertical sectional view taken along ment in posture chairs, particularly of the type the line ii-Ll of Fig. 1. in which the chair back is tiltab-ly supported'and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified is `adapted to be adjusted, both as to angularity form of mechanism for adjusting the angularity and height, for the purpose of adapting the back of the chair back. 5 to the particular person using thefchair. An Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing certain object of the invention is to provide a chair parts of the back support and back in separated back supporting tilting element in the form of relation.

a unit structure which may be readily connected Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing certain to the chair seat and in which adjustment means, parts of the bracket member and joint element in 110 for adjusting the tension, the angularity of the separatedre-lation.

back, and the height of the back, are conveniently Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the tension adarranged so that they may be operated by the justment collar. person while seated in the chair, in order to Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the angle adjustaccurately dispose the back in the desired posiing link plate. 15 tion. To this end the joint means of the pre- Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the angle adferred form of the invention consists of a hinged justing block and screw members. joint of rubber, the rubber being in the formof a Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a complete chair tubular member disposed under permanent presembodying a tiltable chair back mechanism acsure between two coaxially movablemembers discording to the invention. 20 posed one within the other and to each of which Similar reference characters indicate correthe rubber is in effect bonded o-r permanently spending parts throughout the several figures of secured, and the relative movement between these the drawings. members being resiliently effected by the torsional Referring to the drawings and particularly to strain set up in the compressed rubber. Fig. 11 thereof, the chair comprises a base i0 of 25 -Another object is toprovide an adjustment any suitable form upon which there is swivelly means for adjusting the angularity of the chair mounted a post il to which a pair of angle iron back in which a cam is employed and is adapted spider arms l2-i2 are secured by rivets i3, the to lbe operated by means of a hand screw, the chair seat It being secured upon these angie arrangement being suchthat the adjustment may irons. According to the invention the tiltable 30 beeifected with very little effort by the person chairback supporting mechanism is secured to; seated in the chair. A further object is to pro.- the spider arms lil-I2 at a po-int near the rearvide'height adjustment means which may be con- Ward ends thelefveniently operated by the person seated in the The tiltable chair back sup'pOltng mechanism chair and having cam means for releasing and comprises a bracket member consisting of side 85 securing the chair back in its adjusted position. arms l-lii connected by a transverse platform With the above and other objects in view an DOllOn le, 2u pail' Of Spaed Cylindrical bearing' embodiment of theinvention is shown in the DOltOlflS` -V being formed al? the 11131181 Side accompanying dravn'ngs and this embodiment of the bracket for receiving the joint member,

40 will be hereinafter more fully described with refas will presently more fully appear. 40 erence thereto, and the invention will be nally The joint element comprises an outer tubular pointed out in the claims. member l, an inner tubular member i9, and

In the drawings: a cylindrical body of rubber 2S between them, this Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chair back tilting rubber body being highly compressed and oonmechanism, according tothe invention, the rearfined between the members it and it and being 45 ward portion of the spider arms of the chair seat in effect bonded to their surfaces so that upon to which the mechanism is secured being shown, relative rotary movement between the members and the upper portion of the chair back being I8 and I9 the rubber body is put under torsionalY broken away. strain. In practice the rubber body is bonded to Fig. 2 is a forward end elevation of the tilting the inner member I9, as by vulcanization, and is 50 mechanism, the spider arms being shown in verthen forced into the outer member i8 under great tical section, and portions of the chair back being pressure, its diameter prior to insertion being broken away. considerably greater than the interior diameter Fig. 3 is a top plan View, portions being broken of the member I8, so that the rubber is thus highly y..55 away. compressed and is in eifect bonded tol the inner surface of the member I 8 by the great surface friction set up between them under compression.

The ends of the inner tubular member I9 of the joint element project beyond the rubber member 25, as well as beyond the outer tubular member I8, and are provided with grooves 2l which are adapted to be interlockingly engaged with inwardly embossed vertically extending ribs 22-22 extending above and below the joint receiving apertures 23-23 respectively provided in the sides of the spider arms, a tie-bolt 24, headed at one end and screw .threaded at the other end being engaged through the bore of the inner tubular joint member I9 and through the apertures 23-23 and having a nut 25 screwed upon its threaded end, this assembly rigidly connecting the spider arms to the joint member I9 and providing a supporting spacer or strut between the arms. engaged in the spaced cylindrical bearing portion I1-I1 of the bracket for rotary movement for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the joint element as will presently more fully appear. Within the space between th-e bearing portions II-IT a tension applying and adjustment lever 26 is disposed, its collar portion 21 being engaged upon the intermediate portion of the outer joint member i8 and secured thereto by a set screw 28 in the collar engaging a recess 29 in wardly projecting end of the platform portion I6 of the bracket and is adapted to bear at its upper end upon the lever 25. It will be obvious that by adjusting the screw Sil the outer joint member i8 is rotated with respect to the bracket and the inner joint member I9 and through the torsional strain imposed upon the rubber member 20 any initial tension may be set up in the latter, the greater the initial tension the more force required to tilt the bracket. As seen in Fig. l the tension of the rubber exerts rotary pressure upon the bracket in clockwise direction, the bracket being limited in its movement in this direction by means of a pair of stop shoulders 33-33 formed upon the respective sides l5-I5 and which abut the lower edges of the spider arms IZ-IZ. The tilting action of the bracket when force is appli-ed to the chair back is in counterclockwise direction and this movement is limited by means of a pair of stop shoulders 34-34 formed upon the side portions I5-I 5 in angular relation to the stop shoulders 35-33 and which abut the lower edges of the spider arms at the limit of the tilted position. By rotating the adjustment leverV in counter-clockwise direction through adjustment of the screw 3e the initial tension in the rubber is increased so that greater force is required to tilt the bracket.

The side portions I5-I5 of the bracket project downwardly and rearwardly with respect to Y the joint element and hingedly support a back The outer joint member I8 is` space between a pair of spaced anges 42 and 43 formed upon the back supporting member 35 immediately above the hinge axis', and being provided with an aperture 44 engaged by a pivot pin 45 inserted in the flanges 42 and 43. The engagement of the end of the link plate between the flanges 42 and 43 is relatively loose, as is also the engagement of the pin 45 with the aperture 44, the inner surfaces of the flanges being also outwardly flared, as at 46 and 41, to permit relative swinging movement of the back member with respect to the link plate. The link plate is provided between its ends with a downwardly projecting stud 48 which engages a transversely disposed slot 49 provided in an actuating block member 5B disposed beneath the link plate, this block member having a threaded passage 5 I therethrough in which is engaged an adjustment screw 52 rotatably supported in the side portions I5-I5 of the bracket, the side plate I5 at one side having an aperture 53 rotatably engaged by the shaft 52, and side plate I5 at the other side having a reduced diameter aperture 54 engaged by a reduced shouldered end portion 55 of the shaft headed over as at 56, and which secures the shaft against relative longitudinal movement while permitting it to be rotated. The shaft is provided upon itsI outer end with a hand wheel or nut 51. By rotating the shaft movement is imparted to the block member longitudinally of the shaft, which in turn causes the link plate 4I to be swung about the pivot pin 45 and through the engagement of the stud 39 with the inclined cam slot 40 swinging movement is imparted to the back supporting member t5 with respect to the bracket member to thus adjust the angularity of Vthe back.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a. modified form of adjustment means in which the link bar 4Ia is provided with a longitudinal slot 40 engaged by l the stud 39 and is provided intermediate its ends with a stud 48a engaging an inclined slot 49a provided in an actuating adjustment block 5E!ZL mounted for longitudinal adjustment movement upon the adjustment screw shaft 52. In this case the inclined slot 49a imparts longitudinal movement to the link bar as the block member 50a is moved by the adjustment screw 52.

The back supporting member 55 is provided with a vertically disposed slot 58 surrounded at the forward side of the member by a slightly raised rib portion 59. At the rearward sideof the member 35 there is provided a vertical channel 60 Yhaving inclined side walls and which is engaged by a rib 6I formed centrally of the lower cross-piece 62 of the back member. The rib 6I is in the form of two vertically separated sections and between these sections there is secured a block member 53 having a' projecting stud 54 engaged through a hole 65 in the back member 62 and secured thereto by riveting over its end, as at 66.

The block member 63 projects forwardlyV through the slot 58 and is provided with a slot 51 engaged by a rod 68 of square cross-section, this rod being provided near itsI inner end with an, inclined cam surface 69 which is engaged by a pin 1!) inserted through the block member. Upon the outer end of the rod B8 there is provided a threaded extension 1I engaged by a hand nut 12 having an annular groove 13 in its hub portion. The back member 62 is provided with a projecting lug 14 having aVV square opening 15 therein in which the rod 68 is engaged and is also provided with a projecting lug 16 having a recess 11 therein in which is engaged the recess portion 13 of the hand nut and which prevents longitudinal movement of the hand nut while permitting it to be rotated, rotation of the nut imparting longitudinal movement to the rod 68:. The hand nut 12 is located at a convenient position at the end of the back member 62 so that it may be readily turned by the person while seated in the chair. By turning the nut 'l2 todraw the rod 68 to the right, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the inclined surface 69 through its engagement with the pin lii draws the back member 62 into tight engagement with the back supporting member 35 and at the same time the rod 68 is tightly pressed against the raised surface of the rib 5S so that the back member is thus locked in position. By turning the nut 12 to draw the rod to the left the back is released and may be readily adjusted vertically with respect to the back supporting member 35.

The back member is provided along its upper edge with forwardly projecting anges 18-18 at each side of the back supporting member 35 and which may be conveniently gripped by the person seated in the chair to raise or lower the back member. Upright supports 'IS-1S are secured to the back member 62, these supports being connected at their upper ends by a cross piece upon which is mounted the upper back engaging pad portion 8i of the back.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims'.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an adjustable b-ack support for use in a chair having a seat element, a bracket member adapted to be secured to said seat element, an angularly adjustable back-'supporting member hingedly connected to said bracket member, a link member pivotally connected at one end to said back supporting member, one of said link and bracket members having a slot and the other having a pin engaging said slot and providing an operative connection between them, an adjustable block member having a threaded hole, an adjustment screw carried by said bracket member transversely of said link member engaging said threaded hole of said block member adapted to be rotated to move said block member transversely of said link member, one of said block and link members having a slot and the other having a pin engaging said slot and providing an operative connection between them for imp-arting movement to said link member upon movement of said block member, one of said slots being diagonal to the direction of movement of said block member and the other slot being longitudinal of said link member whereby upon said movement of said block member said link member is moved longitudinally with respect to said bracket member to cause angular movement of said back supporting member.

2. In an adjustable back support for use ina chair having a seat element, a bracket member adapted Vto be secured to said seat element, an angularly adjustable back supporting member hingedly connec-ted to said bracket member, a link member pivotally connected at one end to said back supporting member, one of said link and bracket members having a slot and the other having a pin engaging said slot and providing an operative connection between them, an adjustable block member having a threaded hole,

an adjustment -screw carried by Asaid bracket member transversely of -said link member -engaging said threaded hole oisaid block member adapted to be rotated to move said block member transverselyof said link 'memben one of Isaid block andlink members having-a slot andthe other having ka pin engaging said slot and Vproviding an operative connection between them for imparting movement to said link member upon movement of saidblock member, said slot 1 forming part of 4said operative connection between'saidlin'k and bracket members being diagonal to the direction of movement of `said block'member and the other slotbeing longitudinal of said link member whereby upon Isaid movement said link member is moved longitudinally with respect to said bracket member to-cause angular movement of said back supporting member.

3. In an adjustable back support for usefin a chair having a seat element, a bracket member adapted to be secured to said seat element, an angularly adjustable back supporting member hingedly connected to said bracket member, '-a

link member pivotally connected at one end to` said back supportingmember, one'of said link and bracket members having a slot and the other having a pin engaging said slot and providing an operative connection between them, an adjustable block member having a threaded hole, an adjustment screw carried by said bracket member transversely of said link member engaging said threaded hole of said block member adapt ed to lbe rotated to vmove said block member transversely of said link member, one of said block and link-members having a slot and the other having a pin lengaging said slot and'providing'an operative connection between them for imparting movement to said link member upon .movement of said block member, said yslot forming part of said operative connection between said block and linkmembers being diagonal to the direction of movement of said block member and the other slot being longitudinal of said link member whereby upon said movement said linki member is moved longitudinally with respect to said bracket member to cause angular movement of saidback supporting member.

4. In an adjustable chair back support for use in a chair having a seat element, a bracket mem- Y ber'adapted to be secured to said seat element, an angularly adjustable back supporting member having Ya hinge connection to said bracket member for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis, amanually rotatable adjustment screw carried by said bracket member in forwardly spaced relation to said khinge axis, -an actuating member operatively connected to said adjustment screw and arranged tohave movement transversely of said bracket member, apart movably mounted on said bracket member arranged to-have planular movement in a generally lateral direction connected at one point to said back supporting member spaced from said hinge axis and adapted at said one point to have movement in a direction transversely of said hinge axis, connected at another point to said bracket member, and connected at a third point to said actuating member whereby transverse movement of said actuating member imparts planular movement to said part, said connections of said part with said bracket member and said actuating member being so constructed and arranged that said planular movement causes said connection .Tf i

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with said back supporting member to move yin said direction transversely of said hinge axis.

5. In anadjustable chair back support for use in a chair having a seat element, a bracket member adapted to be secured to said seat element, an angularly adjustable back supporting member having a hinge connection to said bracket member for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis, a manually rotatable adjustment screw carried by said bracket m-ember in forwardly spaced relation to said hinge axis, an actuating member operatively connected to said adjustment screw and arranged to have movement transversely of said bracket member, a part movably mounted upon said bracket member arranged for planular movement in a generally lateral direction connected at one point to said back supporting member spaced from said hinge axis and adapted at said one point to have movement in a direction transversely of said hinge axis, connected at another point to said bracket member, and connected at a third point to said actuating member whereby transverse movement of said actuating member imparts planular movement to said part, said connections of said part with said bracket member and said actuating member being so constructed and arranged that said planular movement causes said connection with said back supporting member to move in said direction transversely of said hinge axis, at least one of said points constituting a pivot about which said part moves during adjustment.

6. In an adjustable chair back support for use in a chair having a seat element, a bracket member adapted to be secured to said seat element, an angularly adjustable back supporting member having a hinge connection to said bracket member for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis, a manually rotatable adjustment screw journaled in said bracket member in forwardly spaced relation to said hinge axis, an actuating member having threaded engagement with the screw threads of said adjustment screw and arranged to have movement transversely of said bracket member and longitudinally of said adjustment screw, a part movably mounted upon said bracket member arranged for planular movement in a generally lateral direction connected at one point to said back supporting member spaced from said hing-e axis and adapted at said one point to have movement in a direction transversely of said hinge axis, connected at another point to said bracket member, and connected at a third point to said actuating member whereby transverse movement of said actuating member imparts planular movement to said part, said connections of said part with said bracket member and said actuating member being so constructed and arranged that said planularY movement causes said connection with said back supporting member to move in said direction transversely of said hinge axis.

7. In an adjustable chair back support for use in a chair having a seat element, a bracket member adapted to be secured to said seat element, an angularly adjustable back supporting member having a hinge connection to said bracket member for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis, a manually rotatable adjustment screw journaled in said bracket member in forwardly spaced relation to said hinge axis, an actuating member having threaded engagement with the screw threads of said adjustment screw and arranged to have movement transversely of said bracket member and longitudinally of said adjustment screw, a part movably mounted upon said bracket member arranged for planular movement in a generally lateral direction connected at one point to said back supporting member spaced from said hinge axis and adapted at said one point to have movement in a direction transverselj7 of said hinge axis, connected at another point to said bracket member, and connected at a third point to said actuating member whereby transverse movement of said actuating member imparts planular movement to said part, said connections of said part with said bracket member and said actuating member being so constructed and arranged that said planular movement causes said connection with said back supporting member to move in said direction transversely of said hinge axis, the connection of said part with said actuating member adapted during adjustment to move transversely of the axis of said adjustment screw, said actuating member having a slot permitting such movement.

8. A chair iron .comprising a bracket member, a back member pivoted to said bracket member on a substantially horizontal hinge axis, and means for adjusting the angular relation between said back member and bracket member comprising a part movably connected to said bracket member adapted to have rocking movement about an axis transverse to said hinge axis, a shaft journaled in said bracket member substantially parallel to said hinge axis, operative connections movable along said shaft between said shaft and part causing turning of said shaft to rock Vsaid part, operative connections from said part to said back member spaced from the hinge axis, cooperating with'the connectionV of said part with said bracket member, the construction and arrangement of said operative connections causing rocking of said part to turn said back member on said hinge axis, and operating means secured to .said shaft.

9. A chair iron comprising a bracket member, a back member pivoted to said bracket .member about a horizontal hinge axis, a shaft journaled in said bracket member substantially parallel to said hinge axis, a threaded actuating member having threaded connection with said shaft and movable therealong, a part movably connected to said bracket member adapted to move about an axis transverse to said shaft and connected to said threaded actuating member, a non-rigid connection between said part and said back member eccentric to said hinge axis, and operating means fixed to said shaft spaced from said bracket member, the construction and arrangement of said connections of said part causing moving of said part to turn said back member on said hinge axis.

WALTER F. HEROLDQ 

